Kinsmen of Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia from the Kunav bloc of Vandeikya Local Government Area have declared their intention to oppose his re-election bid in the 2027 governorship election, citing what they described as poor governance and worsening insecurity in the state.

The group, comprising six governorship aspirants drawn from different political parties, made the declaration at a joint press conference held at the weekend in Makurdi, titled “Benue at 50: Reflection, Responsibility and the Future We Must Reclaim.”

Addressing journalists, the aspirants — Professor Dennis Ityavyar, Hon. Joseph Waya, Professor Paul Angya, Professor Terhemba Shija, Rt. Hon. Dominic Terkaa Ucha and ESV Godwin Ityoachimin — said Benue appeared to be drifting at 50 despite what they described as significant financial inflows and the constitutional responsibilities vested in the state government.

They cited persistent attacks on communities, irregular payment of salaries, decaying infrastructure and weak institutional capacity as indicators of leadership failure. According to them, Benue generated about N20.43 billion as internally generated revenue in 2024, representing roughly 0.56 per cent of total subnational revenue, a figure they argued falls short of the state’s agricultural potential.

The aspirants further alleged that although the state received over N400 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) during the same period, many ministries, departments and agencies remained underfunded, while public finance transparency was weak.

They also expressed concern over rising insecurity, citing last Wednesday’s attack on the Abande community market in Mbaikyor ward of Kwande Local Government Area, where at least 17 people, including a mobile police officer, were reportedly killed.

According to them, recurring attacks in Guma, Logo, Ukum, Apa, Makurdi and Kwande local government areas, coupled with the growing population of internally displaced persons, underscore the need for more proactive and inclusive leadership.

Reacting, the governor’s spokesman, Tersoo Kula, dismissed the press conference as politically motivated, misleading and malicious. He insisted that Governor Alia’s administration had implemented reforms in public finance management, civil service efficiency, security coordination and infrastructure development.

Kula said the government had blocked revenue leakages, curbed payroll fraud, revived abandoned projects and invested in agro-industrial initiatives, education and community security efforts. He urged critics to engage constructively rather than politicise insecurity and humanitarian challenges facing the state. (Daily Trust)